Memphis-Shelby County school board expresses frustration with city leaders’ opposition to East Region High School proposals

Memphis-Shelby County school board members Natalie McKinney, left, and Sable Otey engage in discussion about plans for the new East Region High School at Tuesday’s board meeting. (Screenshot)

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members expressed frustration with Memphis city leaders’ recent decision to block a special use permit to construct the new East Region High School at Tuesday’s work session meeting.

According to Superintendent Marie Feagins, the Memphis City Council voted against plans last week to construct the new school in its proposed location. She said that according to city and district officials’ estimates, inflation has also brought the total cost for the proposed project up to over $212 million, which is well over the district’s current budget.

“Essentially, what was highlighted [last week] was the obvious. The funding does not exist and has not existed in full to stand up the school,” she said, adding that the district is unsure about how to secure funding for the school as of this week.

MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins discusses recent capital project proposals for East Region High School at Tuesday’s work session meeting. (Screenshot)

Feagins noted that local business owners took issue with the proposed location, due to concerns about traffic in the area. She said the “appetite from the business community” to allow the school to be built in the proposed location was “simply not there.”

“What was also mentioned was a concern from some business community members about the [potential] increase in traffic. There was a request to have the traffic study – not just the one we have completed already as part of the process – but to have one completed by the City of Memphis itself, and there was just a general dislike, if you will, of the location.

“It is tough to find 40-plus acres of land to stand up a new building. We are [proposing] a building to seat at least 2,000-plus students,” she continued. “We are exploring additional areas. We’re not landing on anything right now. In terms of areas that are already occupied, they just simply don’t meet the need. While they have the opportunity for addition and expansion, it certainly does not satisfy the need location-wise and the need in terms of enrollment.”  

Board member Natalie McKinney said she and other board members believe the city’s decision prioritized business interests over the interests of the community at large. She said the board should “activate” the district community and urge city leaders to support the school.

Board member Sable Otey added that the new school will be needed in the coming years in order to accommodate growing enrollment in the district and alleviate overcrowding.

“Cordova High School is overcrowded as well, and they have well over 2,000 students attending, so there is a dire need for this school in our district,” she said.

Noting those concerns, board member Michelle Robinson McKissack said she believes city leaders “got it wrong” when they voted against the new school.

“We need to have some righteous indignation about that vote, because this has been years in the making, and then for just a couple of businessmen to come up and say, ‘Well you know what, that’s not good for me,’ [that] impacts the entire community,” she said.  “It royally ticked me off, that vote, and it’s not right.”

To view the full meeting, visit Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ Board of Education website.